The Fall Up by Aly Martinez - Review

 



Blurb:

I wanted to jump.
He made me fall.

As a celebrity, I lived in the public eye, but somewhere along the way, I’d lost myself in the spotlight.

Until he found me.

Sam Rivers was a gorgeous, tattooed stranger who saved my life with nothing more than a simple conversation.

But we were both standing on that bridge for a reason the night we met. The secrets of our pasts brought us together—and then tore us apart.

Could we find a reason to hold on as life constantly pulled us down?

Or maybe there’s only one direction to go when two people fall in love at rock bottom—up.

 

Purchase Links:

 

 

Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1HdjDYP

Amazon UK: http://amzn.to/1O2Z0GA

Amazon CA: http://amzn.to/1Lx3txq

Amazon AU: http://bit.ly/1ORKod5

iBooks: http://apple.co/1PShY2R

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1GC0K6L

 

 



 

Kristine's Review:





Reviewed: October 2015.

Where do I even start with The Fall Up...I'm at a loss for words right now to describe the emotional pull Martinez's words had over my heart...I'm ashamed to say this was my first book by the author, but after absolutely devouring this book, sneaking in every spare second to immerse myself in the world Martinez created it certainly won't be my last. I was captivated by the very first page, from the very first line, it was just that I was enraptured by the story telling, but that I was so instantly invested that I didn't want the book to end, to feel that way at 80 or 90% is a feat in itself, but to feel that way within the first few pages...well that is a testament to the author's talent.

Levee Williams is a pop princess, she's instantly recognisable wherever she goes, the darling of social media, she spends her days touring mercilessly, performing and in her spare seconds she visits children's hospitals to put a smile on the face of sick kids, but as with anything, when you spend so much time trying to be everything for everyone, eventually you lose track of who you are, the weight of the world and the pressure you place on yourself weighs you down, and you're left questioning who you are and how you ended up this way...

"Don't tell me you're fine. Don't tell me you have to go. Don't tell me that everything is okay. Just tell me the truth your eyes are so desperate for me to hear."

Sam Rivers by all accounts has a good life, he has a loving mother, a best friend Ryan Meeks, and the surrogate family he provides, his business is booming and on the outside his life pretty much rocks, but that's the thing about shiny façades, we portray to the world what we want them to see, and while Sam's life seems to be smooth sailing, there's a world of darkness that he hides inside.

"Levee, I'd like to struggle with you"

This book hit so incredibly close to home, there's still a huge social stigma that surrounds depression, and mental illness despite how many times we share posts on Facebook and social media to the contrary, suicide is something we push behind closed doors and like to pretend it doesn't exist, but the sad truth is that mental illness effects over 20% of all people in Australia, with over 2000 deaths every year attributed to suicide in this country, it's a universal fact that you will either suffer from depression or mental illness or know someone who does in your lifetime, and I commend Martinez for taking on such a heavy subject and handling it with sensitivity and heart.

"...you have no idea what you're getting into"

 "No one ever does. It's the beauty of taking risks."

The Fall Up is about so much more than pop stars, or suicide or depression though, this story takes the reader on a journey where two people not only find their way to each other, but most importantly find themselves, the author tells the reader that it's okay to feel overwhelmed, it's okay to lose yourself, it's okay to feel shackled to the image you've portrayed to the world, and most of all it's okay to step back from trying to be everything to everyone, Martinez reminds the reader that they aren't Spiderman and that's okay. I felt unseasonably low when I picked up The Fall Up, I wanted something to carry me away and allow me to forget for just a little while, the author didn't just do that, the gift she gave me was infinitely better, she reminded me of my strength, she reminded me that feeling emotions does not equal weakness, she reminded me that life isn't about finding someone to weather the storms for you, but to stand by your side while you find even just a sliver of light in your darkest moments, and most of all, she reminded me that sometimes we have to allow ourselves to fall apart in order to fall back together.

About Aly Martinez:

 

 

Born and raised in Savannah, Georgia, Aly Martinez is a stay-at-home mom to four crazy kids under the age of five- including a set of twins. Currently living in Chicago, she passes what little free time she has reading anything and everything she can get her hands on, preferably with a glass of wine at her side.
After some encouragement from her friends, Aly decided to add “Author” to her ever-growing list of job titles. So grab a glass of Chardonnay, or a bottle if you’re hanging out with Aly, and join her aboard the crazy train she calls life.
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